7 ways to make every day better in a matter of minutes

Those changes include journaling, practicing gratitude, and even ordering takeout dinner.

We collected a list of 10-minute tweaks you can make starting today, and why they're helpful.

Sometimes it's the big things that make us happy — the birth of a child, an impressive promotion, winning the lottery.

But other times, it's the small things. Think capturing the most beautiful photo of a flower garden on your way to work, or hugging a friend you haven't seen in a while.

It's the second type of happiness boosters that we're focusing on here. Below, Business Insider has rounded up seven tweaks to your daily routine — all of which take 10 minutes or less — that can make you happier, healthier, and more productive. Read on for ideas you can implement starting today.

Ferris uses "The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal" by Julia Cameron, and emphasizes that the process of writing matters more than the final product. What's more, journaling allows you to get fears and worries out of your head so you can stop fixating on them.

Another journal option is the "Five Minute Journal," which comes with inspirational quotations and thought-provoking questions.

You can switch things up and journal in the evening if that's more convenient.

Chat with a fellow commuter

Still, most people surveyed said they expected their commute to be less positive and productive if they talked to a stranger.

If you can get over the fear that you'd be bothering someone else, you might be doing them — and yourself — a favor.

Take one beautiful photo on your way to work

Leo Hidalgo/Flickr

That's a tip from Mo Gawdat, who is an executive at Alphabet's moonshot lab, X, and the author of "Solve for Happy." Every day during his walk to the office, Gawdat searches for something beautiful and snaps its photo.

The idea behind searching for one perfect photo is that it prevents Gawdat from thinking distressing thoughts, since he's fully engaged in searching for beauty. He calls it a form of meditation: Instead of focusing on his breath, or a spot on the wall in front of him, he's focusing on the world around him.